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Ballhead - Additional plate?

I have some technical question...
1. If NN5 is attached to ballhead, in this case there&#039;s no need for EZ-Leveler. Am I right?
2. I planning to buy NN5 + rotator RD16 + Manfrotto 055Xprob + 498 ballhead. Do I need any additional plate to attach my Nikon D300 to NN5 and then to 498 ballhead?

Re: Ballhead - Additional plate?

1. If NN5 is attached to ballhead, in this case there&#039;s no need for EZ-Leveler. Am I right?

Right ballhead will allow you to leveller your nodal ninja head

Originally Posted by zorroz

2. I planning to buy NN5 + rotator RD16 + Manfrotto 055Xprob + 498 ballhead. Do I need any additional plate to attach my Nikon D300 to NN5 and then to 498 ballhead

Probably the best is to buy a Nodal NInja QRC2 (Quick release clamp system) that you can attach on nodal head, it&#039;s compatible with Manfrotto quick release plate, and then you&#039;ll be able to pass your camera from nodal ninja head to ballhead and back easily

Re: Ballhead - Additional plate?

1. Theoretically you can use a ballhead in a similar manner as the Ez-Leveller: to level the bubble on the rotator. The difference: using a ballhead, and even with the one you like to buy, you will see movement of the whole system after fixing the ball, reported in reviews. This is my experience as well even with 3-ways heads. You do not have this movement with the EZ-Leveller. Second thing: there will be a lot of torque to the ball head, so a lot of fringe is needed. Third thing: you can not see the bubble of the rotator from top view to set it right centered, I use a small mirror to do that looking from aside, but needs one of my hands.
Fourth thing: a review of your special ball head says that there is only a small difference on the knob between fixed and loose, no smooth way to feel what happens. I would be afraid of smashing my equipment.

That&#039;s why I decided to mount my NN5 DR16 n EZ-Leveller directly to my 055XPROB. I bought a second center column for my 3way head. You can directly mount your ballhead to NN5/3.

2. I use this tripod for a long time without problems , specially reported about the stability of the center column. Having received the new nadir adaptor (swivel), using it, the center column starts to move and is not solid stable to the torque of the system. Gitzo system is more stable in the center column. I found a hint from a dutch colleague about Feisol.com equipment to be rock solid and a little bit cheaper than Gitzo.

Yesterday I received the Feisol CT-3372, I want to use it for swivel nadir and Pole panos. This one is ROCK SOLID. No movement in the center column turning the nadir adaptor to the outside shooting position with the D3 and Nikkor 14-24 on top!! Lot of weight.

The top plate is solid metal and has a diameter of 8 cm, nice to mount a pole, air cushioned legs which makes changing in position easy. Light weight. I have not seen such a tripod before and for this price, 530€. Gitzo is more expansive.

But they have cheaper and smaller models as well.

So my answer: if you can afford it, I now would buy a Feisol instead of the Manfrotto055xprob, which I have used for years being happy with it. But not with the new swivel torques on top. The center column tends to be not stable enough.

Hope this helps a little bit. Just to let you know about my point of view. But there are many ways to Rome and I do not say mine is the one and only

Re: Ballhead - Additional plate?

On http://store.nodalninja.com/category_s/61.htm I&#039;ve found this info about Nadir Adapter"The Nadir Adapter is a must have for anyone shooting an unobstructed down shot, especially important if shooting HDR." ?? Any clue about "HDR"?